Adverbs!

What’s a stinkin’ adverb anyway? An adverb modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs and adjectives are both describer words, so what’s the difference? Adjectives describe:Adverbs describe: NounsVerbs Pronouns Adjectives Adverbs

So What Do Adverbs Answer? Adverbs (just like adjectives) answer four questions about the verb/adjective/adverb they modify: –Where? –When? –How? –To what extent?

Where? Go here (Go where? Go here.) Run back (Run where? Run back.) Crawl low (Crawl where? Crawl low.) Throw far (Throw where? Throw far.)

When? Stop now (Stop when? Stop now.) Leave today (Leave when? Leave today.) Arrive late (Arrive when? Arrive late.) Return tomorrow (Return when? Return tomorrow.)

How? Run quickly (Run how? Run quickly.) Sing loudly (Sing how? Sing loudly.) Dance beautifully (Dance how? Dance beautifully.) Argued angrily (Argued how? Argued angrily.)

To What Extent? To What End? Completely full (To what extent was it full? Completely.) Nearly finished (To what extent was it finished? Nearly.) Too noisy (To what extent was it noisy? Too noisy.) More annoying (To what extent was it annoying? More annoying.)

Commonly Used Adverbs Adverbs can be tricky, as they aren’t always ending in the obvious “ly.” Here are some common ones that we don’t always recognize. It’s important to KNOW this list! AfterwardInsteadOftenYet AlreadyLateSlow AlsoLongSometimes BackLowStill EvenMoreStraight FarNearThen FastNextToday ForthNotTomorrow HardNowToo

Intensifiers A special kind of adverb that always precedes the adjectives or adverbs they modify (come before them). Common Intensifiers: Extremelymost quitesotruly Justnearlyrathersomewhatvery Moreonlyreallytoo

How can I be sure something’s an adverb? Adverbs also frequently end in “ly”: Quickly, dangerously, frequently, neatly, sloppily, rudely, adventurously, adequately, recently, lately, softly, cheerfully, messily, grumpily, angrily, happily, slyly, mostly, absent-mindedly, hurriedly, annoyingly, completely, entirely, totally, mostly, etc. etc. etc. Why do you think the Adverb Shop owners’ names are “Lolly?” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here!”

Practice Identifying Adverbs Identify the adverbs in the following sentences. Remember, Where? When? How? To What Extent? Beethoven tirelessly devoted himself to his music. tirelessly: Devoted how? Devoted tirelessly. He often worked late. often: Worked when? Worked often. late: Worked when? Worked late. In fact, his nocturnal piano playing made him very unpopular with his conventional neighbors. very: To what extent was he unpopular? Very.

Practice Identifying Adverbs The composer was terribly shocked to realize that he was losing his hearing when he was in his late twenties. How shocked? Terribly shocked. His condition gradually worsened. To what extent did it worsen? Gradually. It finally became so severe that Beethoven could not hear his own music. When did it become? Finally. To what extent was it severe? So. To what extent could he hear? Not.

Comparative and Superlative Comparative : Formed if you are comparing two people or things. –Done two ways: Adding an “er” ending (faster, stronger, shorter) to the adjective or adverb Placing “more” or “less” in front of the adjective or adverb (more quickly, less intelligent)

Comparative and Superlative Superlative : Formed if you are comparing three or more people or things. –Done two ways: Adding an “est” ending (fastest, strongest, shortest) to the adjective or adverb Placing “most” or “least” in front of the adjective or adverb (most quickly, least intelligent)

Comparative and Superlative WARNING WARNING! –Do NOT drop the “ly” ending when forming the comparative or superlative of an adverb ! Ex: Walk slower. –Since we’re modifying a VERB, shouldn’t we say “Walk slowLY?” We need to modify a verb with an ADVERB therefore including the “ly” ending! –According to the rule, we can’t drop the “ly” ending, so how could I form the comparative of the adverb “slowly”? »Walk slowlier? Nope. »Walk MORE slowly. Wahoo!

Comparative/Superlative Practice Pam runs __________ (fast) than Theo. Pam is the _____________ (flexible) of all of the dancers. Pam speaks ___________________ (loud) than Paul. Pam is _________________ (loud) than Paul. Pam runs the _______________ (quick) out of her whole team. Pam is the_________________ (quick) out of her whole team. faster most flexible more loudly louder most quickly quickest

Then v. Than Then : Adverb answering “when,” discusses time Ex: We played basketball and then went home. Than : Conjunction conveying comparison Ex: She is taller than me. They are never ever interchangeable!

Diana has many more demerits _____________ I do. Thomas hardly eats at lunch, but ________ wolfs down dinner. _________ I took off my shoes. If I had to choose, I’d want a longer spring break ________ a longer winter break. You will be in more trouble _________ I will. I have to study, but ________ I’ll come outside and play soccer with you. Then v. Than Practice than then Then than then

Why Does it Matter? 1) More descriptive, precise writing Ex: She ran to school. Ex: She quickly ran far to school, arriving late. 2) People make comparative/superlative errors all the time! ACT alert! Ex: Walk slow since the floor is slippery. Ex: Walk slowly since the floor is slippery. 3) Then v. Than errors are juvenile. To anyone who has studied English, these will be a HUGE red flag. If you want respect for your writing, you must eliminate them.

The End! …or is it?